Empty jugs of Jack Daniels litter the floor. Vomit drenches the rug. A fake ID sits on the desk. The aftermath of a night of binge drinking is visible in dorm rooms nationwide.
In an effort to change this, a movement to reopen public dialogue over the drinking age is mounting. It’s called the Amethyst Initiative, and more than 120 presidents and chancellors of colleges across the nation, including Fairfield President Fr. Jeffrey von Arx, have joined. The movement calls upon elected officials to support an informed public debate over the unintended consequences associated with the 21-year-old drinking age.’
The college administrators who have signed on believe the culture of concealed binge drinking that has materialized in residence halls is augmented by the fact that drinking is illegal until age 21.’
Since Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984, states that choose to set their drinking age lower than 21 lose 10 percent of their federal highway appropriation.’ ‘
Dean of Students Tom Pellegrino, referred to the high-risk drinking plaguing college campuses as ‘a public health issue.’ He said he views the Amethyst Initiative as an opportunity to provoke conversation and weigh the pros and cons of re-examining the drinking age.’
‘What we are calling for is to have a discussion on the impact of the effectiveness of the 21 drinking age,’ Pellegrino said. ‘If it is going to be a full and fair conversation, you have to get people in the know. This law does have a unique influence on college campuses.”
The statement each of the college presidents has signed can be viewed on the Amethyst Initiative’s Web site, and calls for elected representatives to ‘rethink the drinking age.’
The statement also comments on the overwhelming amount of young people who use fake identification to buy alcohol.
It cites ineffective alcohol education ‘that mandates abstinence as the only legal option’ as a contributing factor to binge drinking and points out that 18-year-olds can vote, sign contracts, serve on juries and enlist in the military, but are prohibited from drinking legally.’
Allison Gietl, a 21-year-old senior, thinks the freedom to drink should join these other rights that come at age 18. Gietl said she was surprised by, but appreciative of, von Arx’s decision to support the Amethyst Initiative, adding that she backs the movement.
‘I completely agree with it,’ Gietl said. ‘I think young people would be getting in less trouble if the drinking age was lowered. Men and women can go to war at 18, I think they should be able to drink.”
Pellegrino said providing effectual alcohol education to students is a major priority at Fairfield, and that an on-campus forum for discussion among students about the drinking age is possible.’
‘We expend an exorbitant amount of time and effort on education of this issue,’ he said. ‘We will still continue to assess the issue through ongoing programs such as FYE.’
He said the students he has spoken with regarding Fairfield’s decision to join the movement have been ‘appreciative of the fact that Fairfield is lending an active voice’ and were generally interested in participating in discussions on the issue.
Nicholas Smith, a 20-year-old junior, thinks lowering the drinking age could have adverse effects at first. Smith, who worked at a Westport liquor store this summer, said he thinks the high-school community could inherit the alcohol-related issues currently affecting colleges.’
‘I think binge drinking will go up before it goes back down,’ he said. ‘If the drinking age is lowered, kids in high school will know someone who is 18 and have more access to alcohol. But at the same time, I like to drink.’
Smith said the initial thrill of 18-year-olds who would suddenly be legally allowed to drink could have a negative impact as well.’
‘The excitement to use the new freedom would be overwhelming,’ he said. ‘I think that’s why this sort of thing hasn’t been done before.’ It would seem obvious to do it though because of all the other freedoms you get at 18.’
The movement, started by former Middlebury College President John McCardell, has been recruiting college presidents for more than a year. It was officially launched in July. The University of Hartford and the University of New Haven are among other Connecticut schools that have joined.
Pellegrino said the welfare of students is the main concern.
‘At the end of the day, we are talking about what policy would best enable us to secure the health and safety of individuals.”
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